I forgot the password to my email to recover the forgotten password to my blog. Which is more embarrassing? It’s all pishposh now, because I’m back and it’s time to humbly receive anotherLiebster Award.

Terima kasih beaucoup for nominating me, Irene! Since you’re in Paris now, do you crave baguettes filled with noodles and meat floss from your Jakarta days?

Interestingly, the rules for getting one of these awards vary as much as Chinese entrepreneurs find a new food to counterfeit. It’s a good thing, for it keeps readers entertained and recipients on their toes. Thus, even though it’s not a rule to post the rules, let’s take a look at the…rules:

Each nominee must link back the person who nominated them.

Answer the 10 questions which are given to you by the nominator.

Nominate 10 other bloggers for this award who have less than 200 followers.

Create 10 questions for your nominees to answer.

Let the nominees know that they have been nominated by going to their blog and notifying them

Time for some blackmail fodder

1. How would you sum up your blog in a single sentence?

If it’s not fit for human consumption, it’s a welcome guest to BuildingMyBento

2. What is your real name/nickname and where in the world are you?

Hitherto my name is Jonathan, but the nicknames are many. In my 10th grade math class, I was called Sasha without any hint of an explanation. I’m in the US now, but countries of East Asia have also served as homes.

3. Do you have a saying or a personal motto?

Not these days, but I get a kick out of reading Indonesian ads at a fast tempo

4. If you had a spare £500 to do with as you please, what would you do with it?

I’d wonder why I haven’t yet converted it to US$. Then, I’d book a complicated flight itinerary to increase my chances of being able to volunteer my seat (and get )compensation. Finally, I’d eat an oyster po’boy.

5. Who is your favourite fashion designer?

Easy. The ones who hate ties.

6. What is your favourite high street shop?

Harrod’s? For the US audience, I’d say there isn’t one, and for everyone else, any of the department stores in Tokyo.

7. What one item will you be purchasing for this Autumn/Fall?

Something with pumpkin. Edible, not something pumpkin-colored.

8. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life what would it be?

Plop me in a Korean restaurant, since the banchan (side dishes) change on a daily basis. Can I cook/alter whatever I choose? Am I otherwise bulimic? Maybe a tomato.

9. Has anyone ever given you any great advice? If so what is it?

Sure, but I can’t live without street food.

10. What’s your favourite item in your wardrobe?

Not sure what to say here…but in 2005, Uniqlo, a Japanese clothing store, was selling sweatshirts and t-shirts with a few different airline logos emblazoned on the front. I dig those.

Irene’s Q&A for me:

1. Twitter or Instagram?

Twitter, I suppose.

2. Mountain or Beach?

City. But I do believe that mountains exist.

3. Morning or Night?

The point when they’re the same thing. That’s when I’ve had my most pleasant ambles.

4. What do you do if you are feeling down to cheer yourself up?

I might play an old Nintendo game, or listen to 80s music. Possibly read a Japanese or Chinese newspaper.

5. What is the weirdest thing you’ve ever encountered?

The most difficult question here. In fact, it’s an integral part of the BuildingMyBento philosophy.

6. What is your ideal holiday?

Eating, walking and often a combination of the two. Nowhere chilly or blazing either.

7. Who is your biggest inspiration?

Apart from relatives, this is TBD

8. What is your favourite book?

An atlas

9. If you can change one thing to help the environment what would that be?

Send all of the world’s smokers to China. Or is that too unoriginal?

10. If you must have a last meal what would that be?

So it’s not a must? Well, I have many questions in regards to this question, but I reckon this multi-course meal would include lots of garlic, chilies, olive and sesame oils, and baklava.

This is rehashing the bloggers I mentioned in my first Liebster post, but you see, I ignorantly forgot to tell my nominees about their awards. So, I’ll tell them this time:

1^ Jen already knows about her nomination, but you should still visit Expat Lingo, which details the life of Washingtonian (USA) living in the Hong Kong less traveled
2^ Adrianna and Spenser from Spendrianna Goes to China, as they are currently teaching with the same Shenzhen program that I taught with years ago
3^ Lois at Live to Eat, Eat to Learn, for the clean layout and appealing photos of food in India and Spain
4^ Elaine, of elaine is eating; gnawing her way around England, the states and Shanghai. Also, there’s a category called “snacking weird…”
5^ Foodiepelago, if you’re decidedly not looking for a quick read on Indonesian food
6^ Arthur’s blog tiredoframen, providing us with an in-depth look at moving to Japan, and tea
7^ On the flip side, there’s No Ramen, No Life, regarding an expat dad’s take on eating it all in Tokyo
8^ Naresh’s Dream Lenz, which might make me want to say hello to a tree more than once a year
9^ David’s Igneous Bomb. He’s a Canadian bud from my Jakarta teaching days, rather taken with Indonesia, and isn’t afraid of a Pelni or six
10^ Iksa’s Inilah Aku, a pleasant stroll through Indonesian life (in Indonesian only)